Royal · Sniper Rifle
L42A1
Bolt action · 7.62x51mm NATO · introduced 1970
Also known as Enfield L42A1, Lee-Enfield L42A1, L42
About the L42A1
The L42A1 is a British Cold War-era sniper rifle created by converting World War II-vintage Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk 1(T) and Mk 1*(T) sniper rifles from .303 British to 7.62x51mm NATO. The conversion, carried out at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield between 1970 and 1971, involved fitting a new 699mm hammer-forged heavy barrel with four-groove right-hand twist rifling, replacing the original five-groove left-hand Enfield-type rifling. The L42A1 retained the characteristic Lee-Enfield rear-locking bolt action with its exceptionally fast bolt throw, combined with the No. 32 Mk 3 telescopic sight. It served as the British Army's standard sniper rifle for over two decades.
The L42A1 saw combat in the Falklands War of 1982, where Royal Marine and Army snipers used the rifle in the harsh conditions of the South Atlantic. During the Battle of Goose Green and the battles around Port Stanley, British snipers proved the aging Lee-Enfield action still had teeth, engaging Argentine positions at ranges the Argentines could not effectively return fire. The rifle also served throughout The Troubles in Northern Ireland, where its accuracy and reliability made it a key tool for British military and police snipers in urban and rural operations.
L42A1 specifications
General
- Type
- Sniper Rifle
- Action
- Bolt action
- Firing mechanism
- Striker-fired
- Trigger
- Two stage
- Calibres
- 7.62x51mm NATO
- Magazine capacity
- 10 rounds
- Magazine
- Detachable box magazine
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 699 mm (27.5 in)
- Overall length
- 1181 mm (46.5 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 4.43 kg (9.77 lb)
- Weight (loaded)
- 4.70 kg (10.36 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling twist
- 1:12 in (305 mm)
- Rifling
- Right hand
- Grooves
- 4
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Stock
- Wood
- Finish
- blued
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 838 m/s (2749 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 3337 J (2461 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 800 m
History
- Introduced
- 1970
- Discontinued
- 1992
- Production status
- Out of production
- Country of origin
- GB
- Designer
- Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield
Features
- Telescope no32 mk3 scope
- Heavy barrel
- Hammer forged barrel
- Cheek piece
- Hand selected components
- Iron sights retained
Safety
- Manual safety
The L42A1's Lee-Enfield action, while dated, offered one of the fastest bolt-action cycling rates of any military rifle due to its rear-locking lugs and short bolt throw. The conversion to 7.62 NATO was driven by the need for commonality with NATO standard ammunition after the adoption of the L1A1 SLR. The rifle was replaced in British service by the Accuracy International L96A1 in 1985, though some L42A1 rifles remained in service with reserve units and the Royal Ulster Constabulary into the early 1990s. About 1,080 rifles were converted in total.
